I am contacting you today regarding animal care at the Southern Research
Institute (64-R-0001). In response to our complaint which was filed in December
of 2010, your staff conducted an investigation of SRI on January 20, 2011.

This investigation not only confirmed the negligent death of a primate which
SAEN disclosed to you, but also uncovered the equally negligent deaths of two
ferrets, and the potentially life-threatening hyperthermia which affected two
other ferrets. Apparently these four animals were left inside a transport cage
which allowed them to become severely overheated, resulting in two deaths. The
SRI facility was cited by the USDA inspector under section 2.38 of the
regulations, for improper handing of animals.

It is clear from these two incidents of negligence that the staff of SRI has
an entirely inappropriate and utterly slipshod attitude about the lives of the
animals which are in their care. Attitudes such as this potentially endanger the
lives of all the animals at SRI. Additionally, while the extrapolation of all
animal experimentation data to humans is questionable at best, when the
experimentation is conducted in a facility that is so utterly careless and
negligent as to allow the kind of deaths that have taken place at SRI, the
possibility that anything which even remotely resembles science can be conducted
at such a facility is virtually non-existent.

Such utter carelessness must not be allowed to go unpunished. Therefore, I
must insist that you initiate proceedings to issue the largest possible fine
allowable by law against the Southern Research Institute. This facility has
illustrated a total disrespect for the law, for the lives of animals, and for
the USDA. Therefore, they deserve the most severe penalty allowable by law. In
this instance, I believe that the fine could be assessed at a maximum of
$50,000, or $10,000 per violation per animal. I must state very firmly that I
believe that such clear and fatal negligence is deserving of the most extreme
penalty possible under the Animal Welfare Act.

I expect that your office will reply to this correspondence within five
business days.